[Federal Register: August 13, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 156)] [Notices] [Page 44214-44215] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr13au99-67] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notice of Temporary Variance Request and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene and Protests August 9, 1999. Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection: a. Type of Application: Request for Temporary Variance of Minimum Flow Requirement. b. Project No: 405-048 c. Date Filed: August 6, 1999. d. Applicant: Susquehanna Power Company and Philadelphia Electric Power Company. [[Page 44215]] e. Name of Project: Conowingo Project. f. Location: On the Susquehanna River, in Harford and Cecil Counties, Maryland and York and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania. The project does not utilize federal or tribal lands. g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 4.200. h. Applicant Contact: William Jefferson, Jr., Susquehanna Electric Company, 2569 Shures Landing Road, Darlington, MD 21034, (410) 457- 2401. i. FERC Contact: John Mudre, john.mudre@ferc.fed.us, (202) 219- 1208. j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene and protest: 10 days from the issuance date of this notice. Please include the project number (405-048) on many comments or motions filed. All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: David P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426. k. Description of Application: On August 6, 1999, the Conowingo licensees requested Commission approval of a variance of the minimum flow requirements of the project license. According to the license, for the period June 1 to September 14, annually, the licensees must provide a minimum flow release (not including leakage) below the dam of 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow (as measured at the USGS gaging station in Marietta, PA), whichever is less. As of August 5, 1999, the river flow at Marietta was 2,960 cfs. Because of the continuing drought, the City of Baltimore is preparing to withdraw water from the Conowingo Reservoir for consumptive purposes. The licensees and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission are concerned that the combination of continued drought, the minimum flow requirement, and the City's withdrawals will negatively impact the water levels in the Conowingo reservoir. Depending on its extent, a drawdown could impact generating capacity for system emergencies and recreation on the reservoir, as well as energy production of the Muddy Run Pumped Storage Project and the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. To ensure their ability to maintain the elevation of the Conowingo reservoir, the licensees are requesting a variance of their minimum flow requirement to: (1) count leakage at the dam (about 800 cfs) towards the required minimum flow; and (2) subtract up to 240 cfs from their minimum flow requirement to compensate for consumptive losses from the reservoir to the City of Baltimore (up to 225 cfs) and the City of Chester (up to 15 cfs). As of August 5, 1999, a 240 cfs variance equals about 8% of the required flow release. The licensees are requesting the minimum flow variance for the duration of the consumptive water withdrawal period, which is uncertain at this time. The noticing of the request for this longer-term period does not preclude the Commission from approving a variance for an interim period. l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public Reference Room, located at 888 First Street, NE, Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, or by calling (202) 208-1371. This filing may be viewed on http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call (202) 208-2222 for assistance) A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above. m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission. Protests or Motions to Intervene--Anyone may submit a protest or a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, 385.211, and 385.214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will consider all protests filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any protests or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified deadline date for the particular application. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents--Any filings must bear in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS'', ``PROTEST'', OR ``MOTION TO INTEVENE'', as applicable, and the Project Number of the particular application to which the filing refers. Any of the above-named documents must be filed by providing the original and the number of copies provided by the Commission's regulations to: The Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426. A copy of any motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative of the Applicant specified in the particular application. Agency Comments--Federal, state, and local agencies are invited to file comments on the described application. A copy of the application may be obtained by agencies directly from the Applicant. If an agency does not file comments within the time specified for filing comments, it will be presumed to have no comments. One copy of an agency's comments must also be sent to the Applicant's representatives. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-20984 Filed 8-12-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M